Mass detentions spark outrage in aftermath of Pahalgam attack
Authorities in Kashmir detain over 3,000 individuals following the Pahalgam attack, drawing criticism for heavy-handed security measures
SRINAGAR, Kashmir (MNTV) – Following the deadly attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of several civilians and left many others injured, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have launched an aggressive crackdown, leading to widespread detentions and raids across the region.
The attack has sparked an intense response from the police, Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), resulting in cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) in Pahalgam, Anantnag, and other areas of Kashmir.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticized the mass detentions and security operations that followed the attack.
In a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, dated May 6, 2025, Mufti expressed concern over the “disproportionate and unjust” measures taken by the security forces.
She cited reports of over 3,000 detentions across the region, including nearly 100 Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions, describing the actions as “mass retribution.”
Amnesty International has condemned the Public Safety Act (PSA) as a “lawless law,” highlighting its use for arbitrary detention without trial and lack of legal safeguards.
Mufti wrote, “The response from various security agencies that has followed appears less like a focused investigation and more like a sweeping and indiscriminate crackdown.”
She further criticized the lack of justice in the process, emphasizing that the arrests were not a means of investigation but a form of collective punishment for an entire population.
“This approach not only risks alienating families and communities but also begs the question: where will all this lead us to?” she said, urging for a reconsideration of the methods used in the crackdown.
Mufti, in her letter, emphasized the humanitarian impact of the detentions, highlighting the families affected by the raids.
“These are not arrests, just for seeking information that could lead to the terrorists,” said MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, quoting police officials, but Mufti countered this, questioning the effectiveness of such a broad approach.
“Such numbers are alarming and don’t reflect justice but rather a collective form of punishment,” she remarked.
The large-scale raids and detentions have left many Kashmiris fearful and uncertain about the future.
“The imposition of the Public Safety Act (PSA) was deemed necessary,” said police sources, but Mufti countered this by calling for an end to “punitive measures” and a more compassionate approach to the crisis.
“We are all unequivocally in favor of justice,” she wrote, but stressed that justice must not be achieved at the cost of the rights and dignity of ordinary people.
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